"Son las dos" means "It's 2 o'clock" in Spanish. Unlike English, Spanish tells time by stating the hour that has just passed.
Spanish uses a 24-hour system but expresses it differently. For times before noon, add "de la mañana" (in the morning). Afternoon times (12 PM-11:59 PM) use "de la tarde," while nighttime (12 AM-4:59 AM) uses "de la noche."
For example:
| Time | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00 | Es la una | It's 1 o'clock |
| 2:00 | Son las dos | It's 2 o'clock |
| 3:00 | Son las tres | It's 3 o'clock |
Many learners confuse "son las" (it is) with "es la" (it is for 1 o'clock). Another error is omitting the time period (mañana/tarde/noche). Always specify whether it's morning, afternoon, or night.
I once heard a tourist ask, "¿Qué hora es?" and reply "Son las dos" when the correct answer was "Son las dos de la tarde." The shopkeeper laughed but understood.
Practice saying "dos" (dohs) and "tres" (trehs). The "s" in "son" is soft, almost like an "h" sound. Listen to native speakers on language apps or YouTube videos for accurate pronunciation.